No dream start for Tony Popovic as Glory held by Wanderers

There was no dream debut for Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic after his side’s hard-fought draw with Western Sydney.

Perth Glory striker Andy Keogh looks to cross the ball against Western Sydney Wanderers at nib Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

There was no dream debut for Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic after his side’s hard-fought 1-1 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers at nib Stadium last night.

After taking a first half-lead through Andy Keogh and dominating for much of the first 45 minutes, Glory had to settle for a share of the spoils in their opening game of the season after the Wanderers staged a good second-half comeback, equalising through Roly Bonevacia’s 65th minute goal.

In what was his second coming as an A-League coach and his first against his old club, Popovic, after an unsuccessful stint in ­Turkey, walked away in the belief it was two points lost and not a point gained. The former Socceroo ­admitted he was frustrated not to get the result.

“It’s disappointing not to get the win because we had enough of the game, certainly enough control and enough opportunities to win the match, but we go away knowing we have something to build on,” Popovic told Fox Sports.

The West Australians looked solid for most part but a lapse in concentration cost them dearly.

Glory thoroughly deserved their 1-0 lead at halftime having dominated against a Wanderers side that really struggled to stay in touch with the home team.

Perth were well organised, ­especially in defence where they restricted Western Sydney to just one shot in the first half.

At the other end, Glory used the spaces down both flanks to great advantage, especially down their left side where Jason Davidson did some excellent work with his ability to get into the open and then deliver a string of dangerous crosses.

But it was the Wanderers who fired off the first, and ultimately their only shot of the half on 10 minutes when Rashid Mahazi, who had been booked just two minutes earlier, saw his long range effort go wide of the right post.

From then on, Glory did all the running and they were rewarded on 26 minutes when Keogh scored.

Wanderers goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic played out a pass to Ruon Tongyik just 30 metres from goal that put the defender under intense pressure. Neil Kilkenny swooped, dispossessed the Wanderers man then sent a lovely pass to Keogh in the box and on the left.

Keogh fired a shot with force that Janjetovic managed to parry only for the ball to fall back at the feet of the Irishman, who made no mistake the second time and lashed home with his left foot. Keogh should have had a second on 42 minutes when Joel Chianese made a lovely run down the left and crossed for the striker at the near post. However, Wanderers captain Brendon Hamill did enough to force Keogh to put his header just wide.

Janjetovic was again called into action just before halftime when Kilkenny smacked a shot goalbound only for the keeper to make a great save.

To their credit, the Sydney side came out with a lot more punch for the second half and could have found themselves level if not for Perth goalkeeper Liam Reddy.

First Jaushua Sotirio got on the end of a terrific through ball from Alex Baumjohann, before seeing his shot well saved by Reddy in the 47th minute.

Sotirio then turned provider two minutes later, delivering a wonderful cross for Oriol Riera, who was denied by another Reddy save.

Perth almost had a second in the 59th minute when Alex Grant’s header from a cross from the left thumped against the crossbar.

But the home side were stung in the 66th minute when the Wanderers equalised.

Tarek Elrich lobbed a long pass over the top for Bonevacia to race on to and the Dutchman showed great skill to control the ball, race into the box and fire a shot low and hard inside the right post.

Both sides pushed hard to find a winner, but both were guilty of squandering some golden opportunities.

Riera had a huge chance in the 74th minute only to blast his shot way over the bar from close range, before substitute Chris Ikonomidis put a header wide at the other end of the field when he had an open goal beckoning.